GAMES
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PRIME TIME: DFW Football Playoffs Preview -- Argyle v. Walnut Grove (5A-D2 Region 1 Semis)
WHERE: Choctaw Stadium -- Arlington, TX
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Photo taken by: Jeff Rayome (Phlox Photography)
Argyle's Maguire Gasperson
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It would appear Argyle’s opening-night defeat to Lone Star was merely a brief hiccup in what has otherwise been a superb showing for Todd Rodgers and company. Since Week 1, the Eagles have rattled off 11 straight victories, punctuated by one-sided playoff performances against Lovejoy (56–0) and Cooper (77–35).
The driving force has been the connection between senior quarterback Maguire Gasperson and junior wideout Julian Caldwell, which defenses simply haven’t been able to corral.
Gasperson — the defending District 3-5A-II MVP and a UTSA-commit — has once again built a compelling case for MVP honors, surpassing 2,700 passing yards with 31 touchdowns to just three interceptions, plus seven more scores on the ground. Caldwell, a four-star prospect, has matched that production with 74 catches for 1,405 yards and an eye-popping 18 touchdowns, backed by offers from Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ole Miss.
TCU-bound tight end Braden Bach adds another reliable target, with 349 yards and seven touchdown grabs. However, Argyle’s offense is far from one-dimensional.
Senior back Nathaniel Bruce is nearing 1,000 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns — all while contributing heavily on defense with three interceptions and four pass breakups. Junior Logan Rexroat brings further balance, surpassing 700 scrimmage yards with 11 scores.
Defensively, the Eagles feature standout playmakers at all levels, including Oklahoma State-bound defensive back Maliek Bracy, senior safety Sager Zamzow, and senior linebacker Chase Bagley, who leads the team with 20 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, junior MLB Brody Bomar anchors the middle, tallying a team-best 116 tackles and nine TFLs.
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Under head coach Tommy Allison, Walnut Grove has produced its most prolific campaign to date — a perfect 12–0 mark reinforced by familiar playoff wins over Seguin (35–21) and Lubbock-Cooper (55–13). Now comes a rematch with Argyle, with the Wildcats determined to flip last season’s outcome.
The offense revolves around senior running back Cameron Newton, who has been nothing short of spectacular. Building on his first-team, all-district showing, Newton has piled up more than 2,200 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, along with 379 receiving yards and three more scores.
Sophomore quarterback Hayes Hackney, last year’s District 4-5A-DII MVP, has shown no sophomore slump — throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding two more on the ground. His balanced receiving corps, led by senior Zaiden Crain and junior Hayden Cooley, is closing in on 800 yards apiece with a combined 21 touchdowns.
Statistically, Walnut Grove has formed a dominant formula: more than 52 points per game on offense, and a defense holding opponents to roughly 17.
That defensive unit is powered by senior linebacker Keller Pittenger (76 tackles, 9 sacks, 14 TFL), senior MLB Alex Omet, senior safety Parker Olson, and junior edge DJ Henderson-Reynolds — each a major contributor to the Wildcats’ unblemished run.